Starting from tomorrow the 1st of May a significant number of pain relievers containing codeine, such as Nurofen Plus and Panadeine, will be available to Australians only after consultation with a pharmacist, rather than consumers being able to choose themselvesin the pharmacy.

Senior Drug Information Pharmacist at the Mater Hospital, Brisbane, Geraldine Moses said “the vast majority of consumers use these medicines responsibly and benefit from the convenience of being able to obtain them in consultation with a pharmacist rather than having to visit their GP for a prescription.”

Patients can discuss their symptoms with their pharmacist, who will advise them on the most appropriate medication.

The new regulation will mean that combination analgesics containing codeine will be stored behind the counter and larger packs containing more than five days’ worth of tablets will now require a prescription from a GP.